Gen Tinyefuza abandons name, takes on new identity

You have known him as David Tinyefuza, a.k.a. General Tinye, but as of February 17, 2012, that name ceases to be associated with the coordinator of security services in the country.

The moustached-General has renounced his age-old name David Tinyefuza and adopted the name David Sejusa according to a deed poll, a legal document enabling a person to officially change his or her name, he signed before a Commissioner for Oaths on Friday last week.

“I DAVID SEJUSA, the undersigned, and a resident of Uganda, do hereby absolutely relinquish, abandon and renounce the use of the names DAVID TINYEFUZA which appear on some of my academic documents, records and instruments and in lieu thereof, assume and adopt the use of the names DAVID SEJUSA, by which I shall from henceforth, be known, addressed and called at all times, by all persons, in records, dealings, transactions, instruments and otherwise whatsoever,” read the deed poll.

The name Sejusa, a Luganda rendering, is loosely translated to mean, ‘I have no regrets’. The name, apparently, carries equal meaning to the Ankole rendition Tinyefuza, a matter the General admitted inspired him to take on a new identity.

The battle-hardened army MP told this newspaper in an interview that the name Sejusa is a family name that is reflected on some of his academic documents, a name he abandoned “around secondary school level” but one that he finds prudent to re-claim because “everybody back home” refers to him so.

“There is nothing in reverting to my original name,” he said. “It is comrades like you who didn’t know it was my name but those elder comrades have always referred to me as such. And I suggest that from today you quote me as Gen. David Sejusa.”

According to Buganda Kingdom minister in-charge of Royal Travels and Palace Affairs, Mr Kabuuza Mukasa, the name [Ssejusa) does not belong anywhere in the Gganda 52 clans, and has no meaning.

“ In Buganda, someone else should name another unless when it’s a nickname,” he said. Gen. Sejusa joins a list of some prominent Ugandans plying their trade in the military who have since taken on new identities.

Originally called Caleb Akandwanaho, President Museveni’s brother took on the name Salim Saleh during the 1981-85 bush war. Brig. Chefe Ali also abandoned his original name Eriya Mwine.